Driving means for sheet feeders



Aug 1941- E. w. BIIELLUCHE ETAL 2,251,479

DRIVING MEANS FOR SHEET FEEDERS Filed 51 1 9 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Aug 5, 1941- E. w. BELLUCHE ET AL- 2,251,479"

\ DRIVING MEANS FOR SHEET FEEDERS Filed June 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I2+ m W W (I: 27 Q I 25 3 28 I .l'umhv -u' .Jmlw- 6 ESWM - E/zzmr WEE/[am -Fmz7/r JEEP/[why M M Aug 5, 1941.

E. W. BELLUCHE EF'AL DRIVING MEANS FOR SHEET FEEDER;

F vmfi U5. Um M M WW5 u 9 u ,w H 4 m o a. w mu w. n A I K M@" m U a Asiswell is to separate the sheets from a-sourceof supply Patented Aug. 5,1941 UNITED. ST TES PATENT oFFicE ,DRIVING S FOR SHEET FEEDERS Elmer W.Belluche v Racine, Application June '7,

18 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet feeders-f the type used in conjunctionwith printing presses .the manner of driving the feeders.

known, the function of-a sheet feeder forward thern singly to the pressor-other -machine being fed, a suitable conveyor being provided to carrythe sheets from the supply to the press orother machine. e V

There are two general types or.-classifications of sheet feeders, oneknown as the pile type, and

the other, the continuous type and while in each oasethe conveyor is aptto be quite long, it is particularly so in the newer forms of continuousfeeders,v such as illustrated in. Reissue Patent No.

120,194, wherein the feeder is loaded at an elevation close to the floorand the sheets travel upwardly and forwardly a substantialdistance be-.fore. reaching the frontguides of the press;

I I The drivefor the feeder and. conveyor, which is really part of thefeeder,.i s'taken 'fromjthe press or other machine being fed to insuresynchronism. This is' usuallydone by means of a power take-off shaftdriven from the press or other machine being fed, and having a clutchcontrolled driving connection with the main .power input shaft of thefeeder.

hand dur- To permit turning the feeder over by ing its adjustment for.sheets offdifferent sizes, "thejclutch is unidirectionalor overrunning;and toinsure synchronism between the feeder and press, theclutch hasbut. asingle driving position.

'Heretofore, properly loaded the feeder, he had'the alternative of;either driving which case the press. would run for quite a after. theoperator adjusted and the feeder. from .the press, in

number of cycles without printing as sheets would not pass through ituntil the entire conknown tothe industry as stream feeding. a

The former method is. alsozohjectionable, as it power' drive for thefeeder or laboriously turning the feeder over by hand the requirednumber of 'cycles to 'fill the conveyor and advance the first 'she et tothe front guides of the press. v

The latter procedure is objectionable for obvious reasons, especiallywhere the conveyor is quite longand' the sheets are fedi'n under-lappedI relation, which is and Frank R. Belluche,

chine being fed, so that the feeder and conveyor may be power driven toadvance the sheets until the leading. sheet arrives at the front guidesof the press or other machine being fed. I Y Another; object of thisinvention is to provide meanswhereby theindependent power drive for thefeeder is automatically rendered inoperative upon the leading sheetarriving at the front guidesof the press. I A

In this connection, it is also an object of this invention to providemeans for adjusting the .mechanism which renders the independent driveinoperative, to accommodate conveyors of different lengths. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide anovel clutch arrangement wherebyupon initial operation of the independent power drive means, a drivingconnection is established between it and, the main power input shaft ofthe feeder and, whereby the'independent power drive means .initialapplication of driving force from the press ;or othermachine. f

M With the above and other objects in view which will appear 'as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in thenovel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially .as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment ofthehereindisclosed invention maybe made as [come within the scope of theclaims. The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examples ofthe physical embodiment of ;the invention constructed in accordance withthe best modes so'far devised for-the practical application oftheprinciples thereof, and in "which: I Figure l is a diagrammatic sideView of a continuous type sheet feeder and part of a press .which itserves, illustrating the application of this invention thereto;

V Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the upper portion of the conveyoron the feeder to illustrate the manner in which the independent drive isconnected with the feeder; p Figure 3 is an end View of the structureshown in;Figure 2; 1 m "{Figu rei is'an a "the manner in which theindependent drive is disconnectedfrom its source of power, said viewshowing the. parts in the positions they should occupywhen theindependent drive is started;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showenlarged detail viewillustrating ing the parts in the positions they assume as theindependent drive is stopped;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View taken through Figure 5 on the planeof the line 66;

Figure '7 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating a slightly modified form of independent drive;

Figure 8 is a side view of part of the feeder to show the manner inwhich the mechanism for disconnecting this modified independent drivefrom its source of power is actuated from the feeder; and

Figure 9 is an end view of the upper portion of the mechanism shown inFigure 8 and the switch controlled thereby.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which likenumerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates generally a sheetfeeder of the continuous type arranged to present sheets singly to aprinting press or other machine to be fed, indicated generally by thenumeral 6.

As in Reissue Patent No. 20,194, the feeder has its bank supportsgenerally referred to as the overlying the feed board of the press topresent being fed. This insures synchronism between the feeder and thepress.

, Ordinarily the drive for the feeder consists of a shaft Ill drivenfrom the press in any suitable manner and drivingly connected through aclutch H with the main power input shaft l2 of the feeder. This clutchis of the unidirectional or overrunning type and to insure the feederand press being in phase, has but a single driving position.

Heretofore, the power take-ofi just described was the only means fordriving the feeder other than the usual hand wheel (not shown) generallysecured to the shaft l2. The hand wheel provided means by which thefeeder could be turned over manually to enable the same to be adjustedfor different sheet sizes and to properly prepare the same for a run.

After adjustment, the operator heretofore either had to turn the feederover by hand the required number of cycles to fill the conveyor andbring the leading sheet in juxtaposition to the front guides of thepress so that upon starting the press a sheet would be in position to beprinted; or the press would have to be run without sheets passingthrough it until the entire conveyor would be filled.

The former procedure obviously is objectionable because of the tediouslabor involved; and

the latter has the objection of necessitating discarding quite a numberof the first sheets through the press inasmuch as the form would beoverinked.

To overcome these objections inherent in all past feeder-presscombinations, the present invention provides an independent power drivefor the feeder. In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1to 6, inclusive, this independent power drive comprises an electricmotor l3 arranged to drive the power input shaft [2 through a belt l4trained about a pulley [5 connected to one element of a clutch I 5similar to the clutch H.

Through the clutch IS, the power input shaft l2 may be driven in theproper direction by operation of the motor l3 and entirely independentlyof the press due to the unidirectional overrunning characteristic of theclutch ll.

Operation of the motor I 3 is controlled by a conventional start-stop,push button switch I! (see Figures 4, 5 and 6). The start button Ill isthe upper one and is arranged to be manually depressed in the customarymanner to start the motor l3.

The stop button I9 is in position to be depressed by a finger 20 carriedby a ratchet wheel 2| upon rotation of the ratchet wheel to a switchopening position illustrated in Figure 5. The shaft 22, upon which theratchet wheel is loosely journalled, is mounted on the inner face of oneof the upright frame members 23 which support the upright run 1 of theconveyor.

The ratchet wheel is arranged to be advanced a step at a time duringeach cycle of operation of the feeder. To this end, a pawl 24 is mountedon the outer end of a lever 25 oscillatable on the shaft 22 by aneccentric 26 driven from a shaft 21 of the feeder which revolves onceduring each cycle. A detent 28 serves to prevent retrograde rotation ofthe ratchet wheel.

Hence, it will be apparent that as the feeder operates, the ratchetwheel will be advanced step by step to bring its switch opening arm 20against the stop button l9.

Obviously the number of cycles required to advance a sheet from the bankto the front guides of the press depends upon the length of theconveyor. Hence, the mechanism for automatically opening the switch I!and stopping the motor l3 must be adjustable.

In this embodiment of the invention, the required adjustment is effectedby means of an adjustable stop 29 mounted on the shaft 22 and adapted tobe secured thereto in any position of adjustment. A portion of this stoplies in the path of the switch actuating arm 20 to define its startposition and thereby determine the number of cycles for which the feederwill be driven by the independent drive.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9,the power input shaft I2 is adapted to be driven by an electric motor30. A clutch 3| of the unidirectional type with one element 32 thereoffixed to the shaft l2 and its other element carried by a gear 33 looseon the shaft l2 (longitudinally and rotatably) provides a separabledriving connection between the motor and the shaft l2. 1

The teeth of the gear 33 are arranged spirally as are also the teeth ofa pinion 34 which meshes therewith. The pinion 34 is restrained againstaxial motion, and the direction of the spiral on the pinion and gearteeth is such that the thrust set up during the driving of the gear bythe pinion tends to propel the gear along the As in the embodiment ofthe invention here inbefore described, the motor Jofithe independentdrive is controlled by a switch which 'may be closed manually but whichis automatically opened when theleading' sheet on the conveyor arrivesat the front guides of'the press. (This switch designated '35 has itsoperating lever 36 engaged by 'a'forked lever 31' loosely mounted on asupporting shaft 38' projecting from the adjacent side frame 39 of theconveyor.-

Also loosely mounted on the"shaf't"38 is a ratchet wheel 40 which has apin projecting therefrom in position to engagetheforked lever 31 andswing the same in a switch opening movemlent. This correspondssubstantially to the structure hereinbefore' described; and as in theother embodiment, the duration for which the independent drive isoperative isset by adjusting a stop 42 which is fixed on the shaft 38,the stop 42 being engageable by the pin 4] and defining the startposition of the ratchet wheel. I

To positively limit the motion which may be imparted to the arm 31 bythe ratchet wh'eel'pa portion 43 of the periphery of the ratchet wheelis left blank so that its pawl 44 merely idles after the switch openingposition'of the mechanism has been reached. 1 V

The pawl 44 is driven by a cam 45 mounted on a clutch controlled camshaft 46 which makes one revolution for each cycle of operation of thefeeder. A cam follower 4'l on one end of a medially pivoted lever 48transmits the cam produced motion to the pawl through a conne'cting rod4 9. f

Inasmuch as the shaft 46 is clutch controlled, it maybe disconnectedfrom the feeder diu'ing the normal operation of the feeder and press toobviatethe continual idling motion of the pawl, Any suitable clutch (notshown) may be used to drivingly connect the shaft 46 with the feedermechanism. p l From the foregoing description taken in connection-withthe accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that thisinvention overcomes lone of the objectionable features of present: day

sheet feeders by providing,aneindependent drive for the feeder whichis'capable of being set to operate the feeder just long enough tocomplete- 1y fill its conveyor and bring the leading sheet thereon inposition to enter thepress or other machine being fed.

.What we claim as our invention is; r I

1. In combination: a sheet feeder; a machine to be fed; a conveyordrivingly connected with the feeder for carrying the sheets from thefeeder, to the machine; a driving connection between the machine and thefeeder which when operative compels concomitant operation of the machineand feeder; and independent power driven means for driving the feederand conveyor independently of the machine so that a sheet may beadvanced while the machine is idle to a po-* sition at which the sheetinstantly enters the machine upon starting the machine.

2. The combination with a printing press-and asheet feeder. thereforincluding a conveyor for carrying sheets from the feeder to the press.and

means for driving the feeder and conveyor from the press: of powerdriven means for driving the feeder and conveyor-independently of thepress to enabIe advancing a sheet to the: front guides .of'the presswithout necessitating operation of. the press.

3.3Ihe combination with'a printing press and a sheet feeder thereforincluding a conveyor for carrying. sheets from the feeder to the press,and means for driving the feeder and conveyor from the pressi of powerdriven means for driving the feeder and conveyor independently ofthepress to enable advancing a "'sheet to the front guides of the presswithout necessitating operation of theLprss; and means'for automaticallystopping said power driven independent drive when the sheet reaches thefront guides of the press.

4. Ina sheet feeder for. printing presses and the like having means fordriving the feeder from the press and wherein a conveyor carries thesheets to the entry point of the press where its front guides arelocated: independent power driven means for operating the feeder andconveyor independently of the press so that the feeder may be run whilethe press is idle to completely fill the conveyor and bring the leadingsheet on the conveyor to the front guides ofthe press; and means forautomatically stopping said independent power driven "means to stop thefeeder and conveyor the instant the 'leading sheet arrives at the frontguides of the press. c 5. In a sheet feeder having a conveyor forcarrying sheets singly to a machine to be fed, said conveyor advancingthe sheets it carries" a predetermined distance for each cycle ofoperation 'of the feeder so that the transfer of a given sheet from thesource of" supply to the end of the conveyor requires a number of cyclesof operation of the feeder, depending upon the length of the conveyor:power driven means for driving printing press or the like inlacontinuous stream "with the successive sheets underlapped: a conveyorfor carrying the underlapped' stream of sheets'to' the press; meansfor'driving the feeder from the press; an independent drive for thefeeder by which the feeder andconveyor may be runindependently of the"press soithat the conveyor may be completely filled and theleadin'gsheet brought "to the front guides of the press 'while" the pres 'isidle, said conveyor advancing the streamof underla'pped' sheets a stepat a -tim'e"for"each cycle of operation of the feeder "so that thearrival 'of the front edge of the *leadingsheet at the front guides ofthe'press requires a predetermined number of cycles of operation of thefeeder, depending upon the length'of the conveyor; and adjustable meansfor automatically'stopping said power drive after 'the feeder has runthe'r'equired number of cycles to bring the leading sheet to' the press,the adjustability of said automatic stopping means enabling the stoppingof the feeder the instant the front edge of the leading sheet arrives atthe front guides of the press regardless of the length of the conveyor.-I I r 7. In a sheet feeder having a'conveyor for carrying sheetsto amachine to be fed: a drive for operating the feeder and the conveyorentirely independently of the machine with which the feeder isassociated, said drive being powered by an electric motor; a switchcontrolling connection of the motor with its source of current; andmeans automatically operable to open the switch at a predetermined timecoordinated with the advance of sheets by the conveyor so that thefeeder stops when the leading sheet on the conveyor reaches apredetermined position with relation to the machine being fed.

8. In a sheet feeder having a conveyor for carrying sheets to a machineto be fed: a drive for the feeder entirely independent of the machinewith which the feeder is associated, said drive being powered by anelectric motor; a switch controlling connection of the motor with itssource of current; means automatically operable to open the switch at apredetermined time coordinated with the advance of sheets by theconveyor so that the feeder stops when the leading sheet on the conveyorreaches a predetermined position with relation to the machine being fed;and means for adjusting the switch opening means so that the time ofopening of the switch may be set in accordance with the length of theconveyor.

9. In a sheet feeder having a conveyor for carrying sheets to a machineto be fed: a power drive for the feeder independent of the machine withwhich it is associated and by which the feeder may be run independentlyof the machine being fed to fill its conveyor with sheets and to bringthe leading sheet in position to enter the machine being fed, saidfeeder operating cyclically, and advancing the sheets on the conveyor apredetermined distance for each cycle so that the arrival of the leadingsheet at the machine being fed requires a predetermined number of cyclesof operation, depending upon the length of the conveyor; and means forauto,- matically stopping said power drive, said means being advanced astep at a time toward stopping position by the cyclical operation of thefeeder.

10. In a sheet feeder having a conveyor for carrying sheets to a machineto be fed: a power drive for the feeder independent of the machine withwhich it is associated and by which the feeder may be run independentlyof the machine being fed to fill its conveyor with sheets and to bringthe leading sheet in position to enter the machine being fed, saidfeeder operating cyclically and advancing the sheets on the conveyor apredetermined distance for each cycle so that the arrival of the leadingsheet at the machine being fed requires a predetermined number of cyclesof operation, depending upon the length of the conveyor; means forautomatically stopping said power drive, said means being advanced astep at a time toward stopping position by the cyclical operation of thefeeder; and means adjustable to effect stopping of the power drive afterany desired number of cycles of operation so that the stopping of thefeeder may be set to occur at exactly the instant the leading sheetarrives at the machine being fed.

11. In a sheet feeder having a conveyor for carrying sheets to a machineto be fed: a power drivefor the feeder independent of the machine withwhich it is associated and by which the feeder may be run independentlyof the machine being fed to fill its conveyor with sheets and to bringthe leading sheet in position to enter the machine being fed, saidfeeder operating cyclically and advancing the sheets on the conveyor apredetermined distance for each cycle so that the arrival of the leadingsheet at the machine being fed requires a predetermined number of cyclesof operation, depending upon the length of the conveyor; 2. membermovable to stop said power drive; and means advanced by the feeder stepby step toward said member and operable'to vmove the same and stop thefeeder after a predetermined number of cycles of operation.

12..In a sheet feeder havingta conveyor for carrying sheets to a machineto be fed: a power drive for the feeder independent of the machine withwhich it is associated and by which the feeder may be run independentlyof the machine being fed to fill its conveyor with sheets and to bringthe leading sheet in position to enter the machine being fed, saidfeeder operating cyclically and advancing the sheets on the conveyor apredetermined distance for each cycle so that the arrival of the leadingsheet at the machine being fed requires a predetermined number of cyclesof operation, depending upon the length of the conveyor; a membermovable to stop said power drive; means advanced by the feeder step bystep toward said member and operable to move the same and stop'the'feeder after a predetermined number of cycles of operation; and meansfor adjusting the relationship between said movable member and saidcyclically advanced actuating means to effect feeder stopping motion ofsaid member at different times.

13. In a sheet feeder for feeding sheets to a press or other machinehaving a conveyor to carry the sheets to the press and having a mainpower input shaft: a driving connection from the press to said powerinput shaft; an independent power drive for the feeder and conveyor fordriving the feeder entirely independently of the press or other machine;a driving connection between said power drive and said main power inputshaft; and clutches in said driving connections so that either of saiddriving connections may be operative to drive the feeder withouteffecting theother driving connection.

14. In a sheet feeder: a conveyor; means for driving the conveyorincluding an electric motor; a switch controlling operation of themotor; means for stopping the motor including a member movable to openthe switch; means driven from the motor for actuating the switch openingmember toward its operative switch opening position; and manuallyadjustable connecting means between the switch opening member and itsdriving means so that the time of switch opening may be set to occuraftera predetermined period of feeder operation.

15. In a combination sheet feeder and printing press or other machinefed by the feeder wherein sheets are carried singly from a source ofsupply to the press or other machine being fed: means for driving thefeeder and conveyor from the press or other machine being fed; aseparate power drive for the feeder and conveyor entirely independent ofthe press or other machine; a clutch incorporated in said separatedrive; means for automatically engaging said clutch during initialoperation of said separate drive; and means for automaticallydisengaging said clutch upon the application of driving force from thepress or other machine to the feeder.

16. In a sheet feeder having a power input shaft: a drive for the feederincluding a prime mover; a gear; a clutch for connecting the gear withsaid power input shaft, said clutch beinz engageable and disengageableby endwise motion of the gear; and a pinion driven. by the prime moverand meshing with said gear, the teeth of the pinion and gear beingarranged spirally .to impart an end thrust to the gear in a direction toengage the clutch upon starting of the prime mover.

17. In a sheet feeder having a power input shaft: a drive for the feederincluding a prime mover; a gear; a clutch for connecting the gear withsaid power input shaft, said clutch being engageable and disengageableby endwise motion of the gear; a pinion driven by the prime mover andmeshing with said gear, the teeth of the pinion and gear being arrangedspirally to impart an end thrust to the gear in a direction to engagethe clutch upon starting of the prime mover; and means responsive to theapplication of driving force on said power input shaft while the primemover is idle for automatically disengaging the clutch.

18. In combination: a sheet feeder having a conveyor drivingly connectedtherewith to deliver sheets to the machine from the feeder; a machine tobe fed; a driving connection between the machine and the feeder whichwhen operative compels concomitant operation of the machine and feeder;and independent power driven means for driving the feeder and theconveyor independently of the machine.

ELMER W. BELLUCHE. FRANK R. BELLUCHE.

